The Common Dreams news team works hard to bring you real news that matters—which is often about how the world is. But we also work hard to bring you the voices of visionaries who dream about how the world should be.

We believe that informed, inspired and activated people can change the world—and create a more sustainable, more just, and more peaceful future built on our common dreams.

But independent journalism and democracy itself have never been more needed yet more fragile and at risk than now. We must fight on. Please support our critical End-of-Year Campaign.

Search form

For Immediate Release

Watchdog Groups Detail Political Campaign Contributions in Ways Never Before Documented

WASHINGTON - Thousands of U.S.
companies and special interest groups attempt to influence
government through campaign donations in ways never before
documented, a joint project by two of the nation's premier
government watchdog groups now
reveals.

The "Top National Donors"
project integrates the Institute's state contributions data with the
Center for Responsive Politics' federal contributions data -
something never before
accomplished.

"Innovative policy ideas
often flow between the states and the U.S. Congress. For the first
time ever, this resource is available and will allow users to see
who is trying to exert influence on multiple levels," said Edwin
Bender, executive director of the National Institute on Money in
State
Politics.

"Whether you're a
reporter, activist or ordinary citizen, this data mash-up allows you
to explore the extent to which specific interests may be battling
over policy armed with political I.O.U.s," said Sheila Krumholz,
executive director of the Center for Responsive
Politics.

It reveals, for example,
that companies and organizations with piqued interest in the federal
debate over health care reform are at the same time attempting to
bend state-level lawmakers to their corporate and special interests
on the same
topic.

The CRP/Institute study
uncovers that several historically active federal-level campaign
donors also gave a collective $15.1 million to campaigns in 47
states. They include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Pfizer, American
Medical Association, American Hospital Association, Blue Cross/Blue
Shield, AARP and Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of
America.

While plenty of large,
nationally notable companies and organizations top the list -
National Education Association, Service Employees International
Union, AT&T - others prove less
renowned.

The Pechanga Band of
Mission Indians and Clean Energy Fuels Corp., for example, also rank
highly, in large part because of their state-level ballot measure
activity.

State donors were selected
by their total contributions to state-level candidates, party
committees and state ballot initiatives during the 2008 election
cycle. Federal donors were selected by their total contributions to
federal candidates, leadership PACs and party committees in the 2008
election cycle. The totals listed for an organization include
contributions from its PACs, employees and
subsidiaries.

This unique data
mash-up is funded by a grant from the Ford Foundation. The work forms
the foundation for expanded independent investigation of nationwide
influence-peddling
trends.

###

This is the world we live in. This is the world we cover.

Because of people like you, another world is possible. There are many battles to be won, but we will battle them together—all of us. Common Dreams is not your normal news site. We don't survive on clicks. We don't want advertising dollars. We want the world to be a better place. But we can't do it alone. It doesn't work that way. We need you. If you can help today—because every gift of every size matters—please do.

The Center for Responsive
Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in
U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. The
nonpartisan, nonprofit Center aims to create a more educated voter,
an involved citizenry and a more responsive government. CRP's
award-winning website, OpenSecrets.org, is the most
comprehensive resource for campaign contributions, lobbying data and
analysis available anywhere. CRP relies on support from a
combination of foundation grants and individual contributions. The
Center accepts no contributions from businesses, labor unions or
trade
associations.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE FOR MONEY IN STATE
POLITICS

The National Institute for
Money in State Politics is the only nonpartisan, nonprofit
organization revealing the influence of campaign money on
state-level elections and public policy in all 50 states. Its
comprehensive and verifiable campaign-finance database and relevant
issue analyses are available for free through its
website, FollowTheMoney.org.

Further

To those who consider Trump a reptilian shape-shifter, mazel tov: Now he officially is one. Thanks to a species-naming auction for Rainforest Trust, a small, blind, worm-like, newly discovered amphibian who buries its head in the ground will be named Dermophis donaldtrumpi. The name, says its creator, is "perfect" for the new caecilian, from the Latin for "blind...perfectly mirroring the strategic vision (Trump) has consistently shown towards climate change.”

Common Dreams brings you the news that matters.

Sign up for Newsletter

Connect With Us

Support our common dreams.

Can We Count on Your Help Today?

Common Dreams is a small nonprofit with a big mission. Every day of the week, we publish the most important breaking news & views for the progressive community. To remain an independent news source, we do not advertise, sell subscriptions or accept corporate contributions. Instead, we rely on readers like you, to provide the "people power" that fuels our work. Please help keep Common Dreams alive by making a contribution. Thank you. - Craig Brown, Co-founder